The 2010 session of Virginia's General Assembly is in full swing, and this year our legislators face a difficult task as they appropriate funds with a tight budget.  The state of the economy is an issue for all levels of government and it was the lead concern addressed at the January 27th Chamber Day at the Capital.  Executive Director, Kristin Untiedt-Barnett, traveled to Richmond to participate in Chamber Day as the Commonwealth's newest leaders discussed their plans for Virginia's future. 
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling was the first to address Chamber Day.  He introduced the "Jobs and Opportunity Agenda" that includes $65 million in investments for international economic development, tourism and marketing, and business incentives for advanced manufacturing and energy.  This plan for economic recovery is to create a business environment where entrepreneurship is encouraged and new jobs can be created.   Bill Howell, the Speaker of the House of Delegates, reinforced Bolling's agenda by stating that the immediate task is daunting, but the long term is promising.  Virginia was recently named the number one state for doing business.  And although many Virginia businesses have had to make cuts, they are still producing and bringing in revenues.
Governor Bob McDonnell spoke in detail about his plans for Virginia's economy.  He proposed investments in biotechnologies and energy that could create jobs and build tax and royalty revenues.  McDonnell's plan includes budgeting approximately $7million for tourism, citing a five to one return on such investments.  The tourism budget would include efforts to promote Virginia's Civil War history during the 2011 Sesquicentennial Commemoration, as well as providing funding for the Virginia Film Office and incentives for film production in Virginia. 
These proposals were just a sampling of the many that will come before the General Assembly this session.  Though each of the Chamber Day speakers remained positive that the Commonwealth will see a positive change in the economic forecast, they all made note that cuts must be made.  Chamber Day provided an outreach for bipartisan support to help Virginia plan for the future and recover from economic struggles.